Swing bolster control means



June 7, 1955 w, 1', RQSSELL 2,709,970

SWING BOLSTER CONTROL MEANS Filed Oct. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

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ATTOR/VA-Y June 7, 1955 w. T. ROSSELL 2,709,970

SWING BOLSTER CONTROL MEANS Filed Oct. 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 IE...5 i

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"" 7 FE- l INVENTOR. W/[L/AM 7T ROSSIFZL/ United States Patent SWINGBOLSTER CONTROL MEANS William T. Rossell, New York, N. Y., assignor toTransit Research Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication October 13, 1950, Serial No. 190,010

6 Claims. (Cl. 105-190) This invention relates to rail trucks of thetype employing swing hangers to support a bolster, directly, or tosupport a spring plank from which a bolster is supported. The object ofthe invention is to improve the riding quality of trucks of this type.

One of the drawbacks to the use of swing hangers is that their length isnecessarily very limited with the result that the motions of the bolstercan become rather violent. It is an object of this invention to provideresilient means operative in response to the swinging motions of thebolster or spring plank to add energy thereto in the direction ofswinging and to store energy during reversal of the swinging movement.The apparent or effective length of the swing hangers is therebyconsiderably increased.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a springmeans operative in a manner directly analagous to that of a toggleswitch and placed between the bolster or spring plank and the frame fromwhich the bolster or spring plank is suspended whereby the swingingmotions of the bolster will occur as though through the medium ofsubstantially lengthened swing hangers.

Another disadvantage of the swing bolster has always been the diflicultyof controlling its motions by snubbing. The result is that shockabsorbers of various kinds, inferior to presently known improvedsnubbers, have been used. It may be said at this point that, in railtrucks which are subjected to severe service and which may, possibly, gofor long periods of time without inspection and maintenance, frictionsnubbers are most reliable and most economical to maintain. Anotherobject'of the invention is to provide means for employing snubbingagainst a bolster supported by swing hangers.

More particularly it is an object to provide a toggle type springassembly which will soften the swinging movements of the bolster and toutilize a portion of this spring assembly to bring about improvedcontrol of the motions of the bolster by a snubbing action. i

The invention will be better understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein my invention is illustrated, by way ofexample, and in which Figure 1 is a top elevation of a rail truckequipped with a swing bolster,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1 showing one portion of my invention applied thereto, with thebolster in centered position,

Figure 3 is a view of the left end of the construction of Figure 2showing the bolster and springs in extreme swinging position to theleft,

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views of two different types of springreceptacles as seen in Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing an additional support forthe springs of Figure 2,

Figure 6a is an enlarged detail view showing a spring cap rockerassembly,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a truck, having an equalizer bar withthe invention of Figure 6 applied thereto,

2,709,970 Patented June 7, 1955 Figure 8 is a side elevation of anothertype of truck showing the invention applied thereto, and

Figure 9 is a detail of a spring supporting rocker, as seen in Figures6, 7 and 8.

Referring first to Figure 1, the numeral 1 refers to the frame of a railtruck composed of side rails 2 and integral crossrnembers 3. The siderails terminate in pedestal guides 4 between each pair of which ajournal box 5 is located, as shown in Figure 7. The journal boxes housethe usual journal bearings for the axles 6, and wheels 7 are mounted onthe axles for rotation therewith. Equalizer bars 8 are each supported attheir ends by the journal boxes 5 on the same side of the frame 1 andsupport the frame therefrom through the springs 9.

The crossmembers 3 support rods 10 from which the swing hangers 11depend, the swing hangers pivotally supporting a bolster 12. While themember 12 is herewith called a bolster, for purposes of this inventionit may also be a swing plank in cases where a swing bolster is supportedfrom a swing plank.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that a spring 13 is placedbetween each side frame 2 and each end of the bolster 12. Each of thesesprings has top and bottom caps 14 each of which is provided with aprojection 15 outwardly of the spring. The frame 2 has a fixed retainer16 for the projection 15 of the upper cap and the bolster 12 has a fixedretainer 17 for the projection 15 of the lower cap.

The operation of the device thus far illustrated is as follows: Thesprings 13 are under substantial initial compression but are sopositioned that when the bolster 12 is in its centered position theyexert their combined force in the direction of the weight of the bolsterand hence do not exert any force in any direction tending to dis placethe bolster in the direction of its swinging movement. Now suppose thatthe operation of the truck over rails causes the bolster to swing to theleft toward the position indicated in Figure 3. The rockers orprojections 15 will remain in their respective seats, the lower springcaps 14 will be displaced to the left by the bolster and the springs 13will assume an angular position thus causing the upper caps 14 to tiltin their retainers. The springs 13, being under strong initialcompression, are now out of their position of equilibrium and the forcethey exert will now be divided into two components one of which stillacts in the direction of gravity on the bolster while their othercomponent acts in the direction in which the bolster is swinging. Theaction of the springs 13 is thus closely analagous to the action of atoggle switch. By adding a force in the direction of the swing of thebolster the operating effect is the same as though the swing hangerswere made longer. The bolster 12 swings in a path normal to the sideframes as required by the bearings of the swing hangers 11.

The reason for pivoting the caps 14 is to cause the springs 13 to add acomponent in the direction of the bolster swing. If the caps wereomitted and the springs 13 permitted to seat directly against the frame2 and the bolster 12 then swinging of the bolster would be resisted bythe torsional reaction thus set up in the springs. The operative effectwould be a shortening instead of a lengthening of the swing hangers.

1t may be noted that, in the device of Figures 2 and 3 the parts 15 havebeen designated as projections. They may be of hemispherical shape, orthey may be more or less semicylindrical with their axis normal to thelongitudinal axis of the bolster.

Refer now to Figure 6 in which all parts are exactly the same as inFigures 2 and 3 but in which the lower spring cap 14 has been elevatedto permit insertion of a platform 18 and rockers 19. The rocker 15 ofthe lower cap 14 rests on the platform 18 for rocking movement withrespect thereto and the platform is supported by the two rockers 1?which are supported by the bolster through the rocker seats 19a. Theshape of the two rockers is best shown in Figure 9. These rockers 19 arepositioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolster and hencepermit the platform to move thereon in a direction normal to thedirection of swing of the bolster. This platform 13, as best seen inFigure 7, is provided with wide edges or flanges for rubbing contactwith friction elements 21 fixedly secured in the equalizer bars 8.

The operation is, now, as follows: the rockers 15 of the upper and lowerspring caps 14 are now turned at an angle of the order of 45 to thedirection of swing of the bolster 12. When the bolster 12 swings thesprings 13 lose their position of equilibrium, as previously described,and will exert a force now divided into one component which acts in thedirection of the swing of the bolster and, because of the angledposition of the rockers 15, a second component normal to the firstnormal component which urges movement of the platforms. The movement ofthe platforms 18 is longitudinally of the truck and causes one flangeit? of each latform to contact a friction element 26 thus providing asnubbing action for the bolster. The snubbing action increases withincreasing swinging movement and disappears as the bolster returns toits centered position. After a proper angle of rockers to direction ofswing is selected rocker seats 33 may then be inserted between eachrocker and the member with respect to which it rocks, as illustrated inFigure 6a. The seats 33 are firmly anchored to their adjacent truckmember and may be used with both upper and lower rockers 15, Figure 6.They may also be used with the rockers 15 in the construction shown inFigure 7 and with the rockers 15a in the construction shown in Figure 8.

I have thus provided means for increasing the effective or apparentlength of the swing hangers together with means for snubbing the bolsterwithout interfering, in any way, with the bearings of the swing hangers.In other words, there is no biasing or increased wear of the bearings.

The friction elements 21 have been described as being secured to theequalizer bars 8. They can be secured, equally well, to the main frameif the frame lends itself or can be adapted to support them. In Figure 8a different kind of truck is illustrated which employs side frameshaving integral pedestals 24. Journal bearings positioned between theguides of these pedestals support the side frames by coil springs 26.The side frames are provided with large bolster openings 27 defined bythe integral upper frame member 28. a lower frame member 29 and verticalmembers 30. in this case the friction elements 31 (equivalent to thefriction elements 21 previously described) are secured in the verticalmembers 30. The spring 13a has spring caps 14a each provided, outwardlyof the spring, with a rocker 15a. The rocker 15a of the upper cap 14ahas rocking engagement with the member 28 while the rocker 15a of thelower cap 141; has rocking engagement with a spring platform "18a. Theplatform 18a is supported by springs 32 which are the equivalent of therollers 19, the springs 32 seating in depressions 32a in the bolster12a.

The operation of the bolster and of the snubbing device is exactly thesame as has been previously described in connection with Figure 7, itbeing understood that the rockers 15a are positioned angularly of thedirection of bolster swing. The springs 32 and the rollers 19 areinterchangeable as modifications of each other in either type truck.

The invention has been illustrated as applied to two types of trucks. Itis equally adaptable to all trucks employing swing planks and/or merelyswing bolsters and is susceptible of rather wide variations in designappearance without departing from the novel principles herein et fqr h-I here or de ire. to be xten Pr i as defined by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a rail truck, a main frame, swing hangers pivotally attached tosaid frame, a bolster supported by said swing hangers, and a togglespring device active against said bolster and reactive against said mainframe, said toggle device comprising a spring pivotally mounted at eachend at its point of operative contact with said bolster and said framerespectively, said spring being normal to said bolster and the framemember it contacts and hence said toggle device being in equilibriumwhen said bolster is in static centered position, said toggle devicelosing its equilibrium in responseto swinging movements of said bolsterand exerting a force on said bolster in its direction of swingingmovement.

2. In a rail truck, a main frame, swing hangers pivotally depending fromsaid frame, a bolster supported by said swing hangers, and a toggledevice associated therewith, said toggle device comprising apie-compressed spring having a spring cap at each end thereof, saidspring caps each having rocker like projections thereon outwardly ofsaid spring, one of said projections having rocking engagement with saidframe, the projection of the other of said caps having rockingengagement with said bolster, said spring being normal to said frame andsaid bolster when said bolster is in centered position with respect tosaid frame, said spring exerting a portion of its force in the directionof swinging movement of said bolster when saidbolster moves the springcap and projection in contact therewith during swinging movements ofsaid bolster thereby causing said cap to tilt, said spring increasingthe proportionate amount of the force it exerts in the direction ofmovement of said bolster with increasing swinging movement of saidbolster, said spring being restored to its initial compressed positionupon return of said bolster to its centered position.

3. In a rail truck, a truck frame having swing hangers pivotallydepending therefrom, a swing bolster supported by said swing hangers forswinging movements laterally with respect to said frame, and springmeans located between said frame and said swing bolster, said springmeans being under initial compression and, when said bolster iscentered, exerting substantial force directly against each thereofwithout a component in the direc tion of swinging movement of saidbolster, a receptacle having a rocker outwardly thereof receiving atleast one end of said spring means, said bolster upon a swingingmovement displacing one end of said spring means with respect to saidframe thereby causing said spring means to tilt said receptacle and toexert a component of its pressure on said bolster in the direction ofits swinging movement.

4. In a rail truck, a truck frame having swing hangers pivotallydepending therefrom, a swing bolster supported by said swing hangers forswinging movements laterally with respect to said frame, and springmeans located between said frame and said bolster, said spring meansbeing under initial compression when said bolster is centered therebyimposing substantial pressure on said he].- ster and said frame withouta component influencing initiation of swinging movement of said bolster,and a spring receptacle top and bottom of said spring means each havinga rocker outwardly thereof for pivotal action with said spring means,said bolster upon swinging movement displacing one end of said springmeans with respect to the other thereof thereby tilting said springmeans on its rockers, said spring means upon tilting exerting a portionof its compressive force in the direction of the swinging movement ofsaid bolster.

5. In a rail truck, a truck frame having swing hangers pivotallydepending thereof, a bolster supported by said hangers for swingingmovement laterally of said frame, a friction element, movable meanssupporting said friction element on said bolster for movementtransversely thereof, a toggle spring device between said frame and saidbolster supported by said element, said device including a rocker forsaid toggle spring device located between the spring of said device andsaid element, said rocker being angularly disposed with respect to thedirection of swingingof said bolster, said toggle spring rocking inresponse to swinging movement of said bolster, said rocker upon rockingwith said spring causing said spring to exert a component of its forcelongitudinally of the truck thereby causing said movable means to movesaid friction element in a direction normal to the path of swing of saidbolster, and a second friction element carried by said truck frameagainst which the first named friction element is moved.

6. In a rail truck, a truck frame having swing hangers pivotallydepending therefrom, a bolster supported by said hangers for swingingmovements laterally of said frame, friction pads carried by said frameadjacent said bolster, a spring toggle device between said frame andsaid bolster comprising a spring having a spring cap at each end, theupper one of said caps being pivotally mounted with respect to a memberof said frame and positioned normal to said member and said bolster whensaid bolster is centered whereby said toggle device is in equilibriumwhen said bolster is centered with respect to said frame, the spring ofsaid toggle device exerting a force in the direction of movement of saidbolster in response to such movement, a friction element between saidtoggle device and said bolster mounted for movement transversely of saidbolster, and a rocker supporting the lower cap of said toggle device onsaid friction plate, said rocker being angularly disposed with respectto the direction of swinging movement of said bolster whereby the forceexerted by said toggle spring is angularly directed with respect tomovement of said bolster, said bolster being urged in the direction ofincreased swinging movement by one component of said force, saidfriction plate being urged against said friction pads by the othercomponent of said force.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,101,955 Pfiager June 30, 1914 2,205,478 Janeway June 25, 19402,242,190 Blomberg et a1 May 13, 1941 2,466,088 Endsley Apr. 5, 1949

